Sister Springs Baptist Church

OUR HISTORY

 

    According to verbal testimony, Sister Springs Baptist church was organized in 1823.  All early written records were destroyed by fire so the history is based on personal recollections of Mr. A.J. Day, the oldest living member. Mr. Day had been a member of Sister Springs for over seventy years.

   

The congregation first worshipped in a small log church.  Only men and boys were allowed to enter from the front door.  A door on the right side of the church was used by women and girls.  A door on the left was used by the slaves. 

The church was moved to its present location in 1869.  Not far from the church there were two deep, clear springs very close together, but not connected.  These springs were almost identical in appearance.  These “sister springs” gave the church its name.  Daytime only services were held in the early days.

     

As early as 1869 the church had an active Sunday school.  The first superintendent of Sunday school and church clerk was Mr. Nathan Moore.  A Mr. Ray was the pastor in1871 when a great revival was held and 20 new members were added.  In the late 19th century the Sunday school was reorganized with W. D. S. Morgan as the superintendent.          Mr. Morgan promised the church when elected that, unless providentially hindered, he would open the church every Sunday.  He faithfully kept his promise during the forty years that he served.  Many Sundays only he and his immediate family were present, but services were conducted just as if the church was full.

     

Three Sunday school rooms were added to the back of the church about 1935 and the church was entirely remodeled and more Sunday school rooms were added in 1950.  The church has had several other building project s including the building of a pastorium in 1968, the dedication of a new sanctuary in 1977, the construction of new adult education building in 1995, and the erection of a wrought iron fence across the front of the cemetery in 2010.

     

The two springs, which bubbled forth just a few yards from the church and which gave the church its name, have long since disappeared but the future of the church today seems brighter than ever.